There was an episode of Hot Rod Garage or some such where on a challenge from some Aussies they built a GM 4200 straight six with a turbo and made over 400HP.  It was intended to compete with the Barra. 

Sure, its interesting, but once you start turbo charging engines the size of the engine and its number of cylinders really no longer matters.  America has just always been a V8 culture ever since the flathead brought an affordable V8 to the masses.  In other countries there are tons of 6 cylinders that make amazing power.  The Toyota 2JZ used in the Supra is a beast routinely built to 1,000HP while still being reliable.  Nissan had the 26DETT used in the Skyline (a car we never got in the states until the recent Infiniti G series based version).  The Skyline GT-R was said to be the only supercar ever to come out of Japan by the guys on Top Gear, and many have called it the best handling car they've ever driven. 

6sally6 wrote:

Call me weird butt........"Did you see that ad for cleaning ear wax"!!? WOW!
Sic cylinder anything in a Mustang?!......Ehh
6sal6

Sal - once again, LOL
 

I remember reading about a 1000hp Barra on gas not petrol.

It was orange....and from Victoria ( license plate) as I recall.  It is a long engine to stuff into a 65.
I couldn’t find the article online today.

Last edited by Nos681 (1/10/2021 11:23 PM)

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/bonneville-speed-week-the-arkansas-mile-2020.1183897/#post-13444494              (half way down for the video!)

      ^^^^^^^^This still   "trips-my-trigger" as far as 6 cylinder stuff goes!^^^^^^^^^
Old skool fer sure.
That Aussie 6  IS  impressive no doubt.
The above vid with the 6 in a 69 I kinda liked. 'Long-legged' gear fer sure-fer sure
(that's my west coast impression talk)!  You know.........'bi-itch;in!
6s6

Last edited by 6sally6 (1/11/2021 1:26 PM)

I can make 4 equal 8 if I want to.  Its just a case of how many times atmospheric pressure I need to cram into the cylinders.  A 2.5 liter 4 cylinder running 14.7psi of boost is going to make the same power as a 5.0 V8 running NA all other things being equal.  The 2.0 in my WRX made 227HP stock in '02.  Compare that to the 225HP the 5.0 HO made in my Mustang in '89.  Hence my comparison that the WRX was the 5.0 of the import scene.  Cheap, fast, and handled well (truthfully the WRX handles a lot better than a 5.0 due to the AWD).  It also legitimized real imports performance to the masses, much the same as the 5.0 legitimized that muscle was back and EFI was more help than hindrance to performance.  Cool is cool and fast is fast.  Brand loyalty forsaking all others has never been appealing to me. 

Greg B wrote:

....it just cannot compete with the raw feel  of my 390 in my Gal.   The whole car just rumbles in a manly pleasing way.  Even though in a straight up drag race the Mustang would probably kick it's arse.   .

 
With "some" gear and wide enough tires I bet it would be a different story.
("some"....as in eyeball flattening!!!!
6s6)

Bearing Bob wrote:

Fordsix.com has had threads on the Barra and also the six cyl SOHC head swap for years. Pretty cool stuff those Ozzies have to play with. Last Barra I saw for sale in the US was $1,800.

I'd have figured Barry would've brought one over to a Bash in his suitcase by now.

They don't fit the overhead lockers.
With the end of locally produced cars, comes the end of Aussie innovation. no more stuff like Aussie Clevelands, and DOHC crossflow 250 sixes. No more Barras.   It was a good time to be a petrol head.
 

6sally6 wrote:

50vert wrote:

Bearing Bob wrote:

Fordsix.com has had threads on the Barra and also the six cyl SOHC head swap for years. Pretty cool stuff those Ozzies have to play with. Last Barra I saw for sale in the US was $1,800.

I'd have figured Barry would've brought one over to a Bash in his suitcase by now.

They don't fit the overhead lockers.
With the end of locally produced cars, comes the end of Aussie innovation. no more stuff like Aussie Clevelands, and DOHC crossflow 250 sixes. No more Barras.   It was a good time to be a petrol head.
 

 

Progress I guess!?
6s6

Sounds like globalization to me.  I sure don't call that progress, well, unless you consider moving backward progress...

6sally6 wrote:

TKOPerformance wrote:

6sally6 wrote:

 

Progress I guess!?
6s6

Sounds like globalization to me.  I sure don't call that progress, well, unless you consider moving backward progress...

Uhhhhhhhhh. ............"tongue-in-cheek." (shoulda made it clear.)
Of course its globalization!! "WE" and the rest of the world are selling out for cheaper-is-better idea. Walmart mentality at the cost of quality/jobs/workmanship/innovation...you name it.
OK.........DONE!
6s6
 

I so want to say MUCH more, but I already know we are on the same wavelength and this isn't the forum (hah) for it.  I'll refrain. 
 

1000 HP is common, 2000 HP is extreme.

They are using turbos to achieve that power.  These are also basically racing applications.  There are tons of turbo V8s making 1,000HP, and serious ones in racing are more in the 3,000-3,500 range. 

Now it says that the basic engine architecture of the Barra is stout because the stock blocks, etc. can live through that power.  But built the same way, a V8 is going to make more power, and be considerably cheaper to build.